it's a referendum on taxes but as candidate romney said some months ago down in florida, if 47%, 46% of the households are already paying no taxes, is his message of lower taxes going to resonate with that significant portion of the electorate? >> i actually think that message does resonate. most americans know instinctively higher taxes mean slower growth, fewer jobs. whether you're paying income taxes, everyone has a strong interest in robust economy and a low tax rate is part of that. >> sir, if obama wins re-election, will republicans have to give up on their no tax hike position? >> the question is not really whether they'll give up. no, they don't have to give up. the problem is all the bush tax cuts run out automatically. republicans could vote to extend them unless the president is willing to sign that extension. then they run out. that, by the way, could have happened in 2010. the only reason we were able to avoid it then is the president, i think, wisely decided the economy was too weak and we bargained with him. gave him an extension of unemployment benefits in exchange fo